No One, Not Even Trump, Is Above the Law
The former president’s criminal indictment was justified. That doesn’t mean it’s good for the country.
Tell it to the judge.
Photographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump appearing in federal court in Miami today, facing 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified documents, is a sad but necessary moment of truth and accountability. Even for his staunchest opponents, it should be nothing to celebrate.
The facts of the case, as detailed in a 49-page indictment, are deeply disturbing — and extraordinarily dangerous. On leaving office, Trump took “scores of boxes” with him that he was not authorized to possess. They contained highly classified files on (among other things) nuclear programs, weapons capabilities, US military vulnerabilities and plans for retaliation after a foreign attack. Despite the extreme sensitivity of the files, Trump stashed them haphazardly around his golf club, “including in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.” On at least two occasions he showed them off to others. Commenting on a plan of attack, he said, “This is secret information. Look, look at this.”